Evolution: How the video arcade is changing in America

Gamers looking for a night out might be intimidated by the dwindling number …

Video arcades—in the USA, at least—have been slowly dying out over the past decade, in large part because home consoles and PCs have replaced their standing cabinet counterparts as sources of multiplayer entertainment. However, some arcades are evolving into "game centers," cyber cafes, and something relatively unheard of before: mobile gaming centers.

While cyber cafes are nothing new, recurring tournaments featuring games like World of Warcraft and Quake Wars are increasingly common in such locales. Groups like iGames are teaming with these cyber cafes by offering both hardware and software for gaming events, as well as helping them set up game stations at affordable rates.

Of course, the new entry onto the list of evolving video arcades comes in the form of modified RVs set up as gaming lounges. Over in Virginia, Greg Weate has created the GamerBUS, which holds 16 Xbox 360 stations with 23-inch TVs. Weate got the idea for the bus when he saw his son's friends set up a multiplayer gaming session with their Xboxes a couple of years ago. As of right now, the bus offers the following games for networked play:

Party buses are nothing new, especially out here in California during prom season. I've actually seen one or two that have had a game system installed, but nothing like what Weate's offering. While services like those of the GamerBUS aren't the most feasible alternative to, say, a LAN party amongst a group of friends, it's certainly an appealing idea for large birthday parties or as an attraction at community events. However, one suggestion for improvement on the Bus: install cupholders into the chairs. Us gamers like to consume frosty beverages when we're schooling our opponents.

Ben's Thoughts

The options for social gaming are going up, but anecdotally, I've seen so many of these businesses come and go that I'm not sure if they are very economically viable. Do people really want to rent a bus for their multiplayer gaming? Even a moderately-priced home theater tends to blow away what you see in most gaming centers, and the crowd may be more of a deterrent for many people than a draw.

I'm looking forward to hearing if anyone out there has seen any of these ideas work, or if they've enjoyed their experiences in one.